Two men jailed after police find over £40,000 of illegal drugs in black cab travelling to Barrow

Two men caught using a black cab to move tens of thousands of pounds worth of illegal drugs in Barrow have today been jailed.

William Ellis, 41 and Christopher Willis, 35, both admitted possession of intent to supply a Class A drug (cocaine) and possession to supply a Class B drug (amphetamine).

Ellis was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison. Willis was sentenced to two years and three months.

Preston Crown Court heard how, on the afternoon of 5 January, the two men were travelling in a black taxi in Barrow when the vehicle was stopped by police.

Officers found the men in possession of three, 2kg blocks of amphetamines and 100g of cocaine. The cocaine was hidden inside a tin of paint.

The total value of the drugs seized was between £40,000 and £50,000.

In his police interview, Willis told officers he was a taxi driver and that he had no knowledge of the drugs being in the vehicle. He then refused to answer any further questions.

Ellis also provided a prepared statement saying he was asked to deliver a package to pay off a debt. He too refused to answer any further questions.

However, both men admitted the offences at court.

A spokesman for Cumbria Police’s Barrow Drugs Unit said: “These men were found in possession of a considerable amount of drugs which would otherwise have found its way onto the streets of Barrow and beyond.

“Cumbria is no soft touch when it comes to illegal drugs and these two men are just the latest to have travelled to the county and learned this fact the hard way.

“We would continue to urge people in Barrow – and across the county – to be our eyes and ears and alert us to any suspicions of drug dealing in their community.”